As we ready the house for Christmas, the baking is nearly complete, the gifts are mostly wrapped, its going to be a low key Christmas here and we're okay with that. We have seen our daughters face. The kids have a new sister. We are overjoyed.
As we reflect on this past year we are so incredibly humbled. Blessed. So so blessed. Finishing out the year knowing who our daughter is and trusting in Gods perfect timing to bring her home. Forever. Our hearts are full. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3
I am a bargain shopper, one year I bought the Pottery Barn Stockings for the family on clearance, they messed up the order and sent me a gift card plus I got all but two of the stockings free due to this mistake. When I ordered Silas' it was also on clearance and the shipping was extremely delayed so they sent me another gift card. I forgot about it. I recently found it and just ordered Zahras stocking, but of course, on clearance, and with a gift card! Now they have this sweet little preview button!
Isn't that the cutest?!
I've delayed this long enough I suppose - what you really want are the details on our sweet girl. Here goes. She is four. A teeny little thing. Absolutely Perfect. I may be slightly biased but she is gorgeous and we hear she is sweet as sugar. Cannot wait to get our arms around this little lady. She currently rocks a bald head and if you see any of us in person we're bound to share a picture. The girls carry her little picture with them everywhere!
We have named her, although we can't share her given Ethiopian name until she is officially ours, we can tell you the two American names we've added. Her sweet name will be Zahra (pronounced Zaw-ruh) Reign and her Ethiopian name will be sandwiched in between. Meaning is a big thing around here, Zahra means princess which is fitting since her daddy has called her his princess as he's prayed for her all along this journey, anytime he referred to her in conversation, etc. We loved the name before we knew the meaning so of course it just makes sense. Only God. Her Ethiopian name means "Above All" and Reign means "Sovereign". Our prayer as her parents is that above all, her life would display the love of Jesus and bring glory to our Sovereign King. We know that she will wrestle with things, we all do, its part of what makes us who we are. We don't go into this adoption with rose colored glasses instead we lean on Christ and Christ alone for strength to carry us and to bind us together as a family. These are Gods children and we are honored, privileged, and humbled that we get to parent this sweet girl.
Many have asked what happens next. Essentially, more waiting. We are anticipating that we will hear of a court date within the next month or so and the best estimation our agency can give us is that it will be sometime in March. That's just a guess and we'll just have to wait and see. If everything goes according to plan we should be home by the end of April. It seems so far away yet we rest in Gods perfect timing.
In the meantime we are THRILLED that our friends Joe and Rachel will be loving on our girl in just two short weeks! They will deliver a sweet package for us, take pictures as they tell our little girl she has a forever family. We are so blessed that not only will she be loved on by dear dear friends but that she will know little Abby when she comes home. This is only a story God could write. His plans are so much better then ours. May He be glorified.
Then the looming question of funds. Yes, we are still short our travel expenses. Honestly, I'm exhausted. Yet His grace is sufficient. Within hours of making our news public the Lord brought someone to our door to remind me that HE is in charge and HE owns it all. This person had no idea the wrestling match I was having and I resolved to tears as they handed me a wad of cash. Money I know they needed themselves. This single act brought me to repentance before my King as I had struggled with doubt. Knowing in my heart who is in control but struggling to walk it. God revealed Himself through one of His children, bending down to gently remind me of His plan, His timing, and His perfection.
Its not about me or my timing. Its all about Him and HIS glory.
I know that my King has already got this figured out. He has chosen Zahra to be in our family and HE will make a way to provide the needed funds to complete it. Despite my exhaustion I will press on. For the love of a little girl whose beautiful face I see all over my house. Whose heart has been broken, who has experienced pain no four year old ever should. Yet a Sovereign God should see fit that we get to be her family. To have a family committed to walking this pain with her, to love her, to cherish her, forever. This is my daughter. For my daughter I will fight. For my daughter I will exhaust all possibilities. For my daughter I will labor until she is home. Under our roof, tucked into her bed, and kissed good night, each and every night.
If you feel led to help bring Zahra home you can donate via paypal or if you want a tax deduction for 2010 you can donate through Lifesong or our church adoption fund. Information is on the left hand side bar of this blog. Every donation made will also be reflected in our puzzle, it has been amazing to write each name down, it is almost complete!
We also have shirts. Lots of shirts. We need to sell 100 shirts to buy our plane tickets. You can order shirts over at our shirt shop - http://www.theroadlesstraveledshirtshop.blogspot.com/
I've updated what we have in stock. We are working on a couple other projects we'll unveil in the new year.
Words can't express the gratitude we feel towards each and every one of you that have prayed, supported financially, spiritually, and emotionally. You have been a part of Zahra's story, you will always be a part of her story, a part of our family story, and we pray that through this story God would be glorified. Thank you.
As we reflect on this past year we are so incredibly humbled. Blessed. So so blessed. Finishing out the year knowing who our daughter is and trusting in Gods perfect timing to bring her home. Forever. Our hearts are full. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3
I am a bargain shopper, one year I bought the Pottery Barn Stockings for the family on clearance, they messed up the order and sent me a gift card plus I got all but two of the stockings free due to this mistake. When I ordered Silas' it was also on clearance and the shipping was extremely delayed so they sent me another gift card. I forgot about it. I recently found it and just ordered Zahras stocking, but of course, on clearance, and with a gift card! Now they have this sweet little preview button!
Isn't that the cutest?!
I've delayed this long enough I suppose - what you really want are the details on our sweet girl. Here goes. She is four. A teeny little thing. Absolutely Perfect. I may be slightly biased but she is gorgeous and we hear she is sweet as sugar. Cannot wait to get our arms around this little lady. She currently rocks a bald head and if you see any of us in person we're bound to share a picture. The girls carry her little picture with them everywhere!
We have named her, although we can't share her given Ethiopian name until she is officially ours, we can tell you the two American names we've added. Her sweet name will be Zahra (pronounced Zaw-ruh) Reign and her Ethiopian name will be sandwiched in between. Meaning is a big thing around here, Zahra means princess which is fitting since her daddy has called her his princess as he's prayed for her all along this journey, anytime he referred to her in conversation, etc. We loved the name before we knew the meaning so of course it just makes sense. Only God. Her Ethiopian name means "Above All" and Reign means "Sovereign". Our prayer as her parents is that above all, her life would display the love of Jesus and bring glory to our Sovereign King. We know that she will wrestle with things, we all do, its part of what makes us who we are. We don't go into this adoption with rose colored glasses instead we lean on Christ and Christ alone for strength to carry us and to bind us together as a family. These are Gods children and we are honored, privileged, and humbled that we get to parent this sweet girl.
Many have asked what happens next. Essentially, more waiting. We are anticipating that we will hear of a court date within the next month or so and the best estimation our agency can give us is that it will be sometime in March. That's just a guess and we'll just have to wait and see. If everything goes according to plan we should be home by the end of April. It seems so far away yet we rest in Gods perfect timing.
In the meantime we are THRILLED that our friends Joe and Rachel will be loving on our girl in just two short weeks! They will deliver a sweet package for us, take pictures as they tell our little girl she has a forever family. We are so blessed that not only will she be loved on by dear dear friends but that she will know little Abby when she comes home. This is only a story God could write. His plans are so much better then ours. May He be glorified.
Then the looming question of funds. Yes, we are still short our travel expenses. Honestly, I'm exhausted. Yet His grace is sufficient. Within hours of making our news public the Lord brought someone to our door to remind me that HE is in charge and HE owns it all. This person had no idea the wrestling match I was having and I resolved to tears as they handed me a wad of cash. Money I know they needed themselves. This single act brought me to repentance before my King as I had struggled with doubt. Knowing in my heart who is in control but struggling to walk it. God revealed Himself through one of His children, bending down to gently remind me of His plan, His timing, and His perfection.
Its not about me or my timing. Its all about Him and HIS glory.
I know that my King has already got this figured out. He has chosen Zahra to be in our family and HE will make a way to provide the needed funds to complete it. Despite my exhaustion I will press on. For the love of a little girl whose beautiful face I see all over my house. Whose heart has been broken, who has experienced pain no four year old ever should. Yet a Sovereign God should see fit that we get to be her family. To have a family committed to walking this pain with her, to love her, to cherish her, forever. This is my daughter. For my daughter I will fight. For my daughter I will exhaust all possibilities. For my daughter I will labor until she is home. Under our roof, tucked into her bed, and kissed good night, each and every night.
If you feel led to help bring Zahra home you can donate via paypal or if you want a tax deduction for 2010 you can donate through Lifesong or our church adoption fund. Information is on the left hand side bar of this blog. Every donation made will also be reflected in our puzzle, it has been amazing to write each name down, it is almost complete!
We also have shirts. Lots of shirts. We need to sell 100 shirts to buy our plane tickets. You can order shirts over at our shirt shop - http://www.theroadlesstraveledshirtshop.blogspot.com/
I've updated what we have in stock. We are working on a couple other projects we'll unveil in the new year.
Words can't express the gratitude we feel towards each and every one of you that have prayed, supported financially, spiritually, and emotionally. You have been a part of Zahra's story, you will always be a part of her story, a part of our family story, and we pray that through this story God would be glorified. Thank you.
6 comments:
Love this. Such a beautiful testimony of the Lord. May He hold you each close until you are all TOGETHER ... forever. Love you, friend!!
Time for our Father to sell a few cattle...no problem! I shall trust Him with you for His provision because, as a dear friend of mine likes to say, our Father funds what He favors! Can't wait to see how He works it all together for your good, Zahra's good, my good, etc...and all for His glory!
Congratulations again! So excited for you all. I understand the exhaustion b/c I've hit that point too. Blessings to you as you fundraise that last amount and bring Zahra home!
Oh, I love hearing more about precious Zahra! Love her name too! Will be praying for ya'll during this final bit of fundraising! So excited that your princess will be home soon!
First of all, Congrats to the whole family! What wonderful way to spend Christmas, in the joy of knowing God brough you your princess :-) Next, what a beautiful name. I'm sure it matches the beauty of light that resides in her and will some shine through when all of you get to be together as a family. God bless!!
Congrats! How exciting. Love the name and can't wait to see her face someday soon!
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